Chapter 12
KIMBERLY
It's not like you’re sleeping with him, Kimberly. They'll put another bed in the living room.
Still, it was too close for comfort. Besides, we'd have to share a bathroom. I’d be on edge the whole trip. How would I even sleep, knowing he was in the room next to me? All that would separate us was a door that probably couldn't even be locked.
A bellboy came up with us, pushing a trolley with the luggage.
We were completely silent in the elevator.
My body was overwhelmed by Drake's close presence.
Was this just as tortuous for him? It was like someone had sucked out all the air, and we weren't even alone inside.
The bellboy kept chatting about everything we could do, from using the sauna and pool area to renting our ski equipment and buying lift tickets. I was only half listening.
When the doors opened, he got out first and led us to the room. It was at the end of a corridor, which was to be expected, as that's where suites usually were. He swiped the card, pushing the door open. Fortunately, there were no Valentine’s Day decorations.
"This is our very best suite. You’re extremely lucky to get it, as it usually books up fast. Do you want me to show you around?"
"There's no need," Drake said. "Thank you very much."
"Okay," the boy said instantly, pressing his lips together. Drake tipped him generously before he left.
The second we were alone, the buzz in my body intensified, and adrenaline bubbled up just under my skin. We both stood in the hallway, completely silent. It was semi-dark in here because the windows were around the corner.
"Kimberly.” His voice was ragged, the way it had been in that staircase before he kissed me.
He cleared his throat. "Do you need to change, or do you want us to go right away?" His voice sounded almost normal now, like he'd somehow managed to regain control of himself.
"I'm ready. I don't have to change at all." I’d planned to refresh myself, but how was I going to take a shower with him in the next room? Besides, we were short on time. "I'll just leave my luggage here, and when they find a room for me, I'll be ready to go."
"Kimberly, you’ll stay here, okay? And if they find something, I'll go."
"No, really, it's…." I sighed. "You know what? It doesn't matter. We'll see what happens when and if they find a room."
He smirked. "What? You're missing out on an opportunity to fight me on something? Or are you afraid it might end up with us kissing?”
I licked my lips. He leaned closer. "This might end up with us kissing anyway," he murmured.
I swallowed hard.
"Fuck, you're so adorable when you're rattled."
"I must seem adorable to you twenty-four hours a day, then, because lately, I’m rattled whenever you're near.”
“And I'm enjoying every damn second of it."
He let out a surprised laugh. “This room looks better than in the pictures.”
“I told them not to bother with decorations. Come on, let's go. We don't want to be late."
I took a step back, but I still felt his eyes on me.
"We definitely don't want that, Kimberly."
I was rooted to my spot, playing with the shoulder strap of my purse. Is it just me, or did it get really warm in here? I'd unbuttoned my coat downstairs in the lobby, but I hadn't bothered to take it off. Now I really wished I had.
He opened the door, and I scooted out, walking with quick steps toward the elevator. It arrived promptly, and to my dismay, we were alone in it. That seemed to increase the tension between us tenfold.
"Tell me about the space. I want to hear your thoughts now before we get there so I can picture it before I see it," I said.
"Are you sure, or are you just trying to distract yourself?"
"Drake!”
“It’s the perfect size," he said as the door opened, "and the location is very attractive.”
“It's not within walking distance to the ski lift. I checked."
"No, but we can offer a shuttle service just like this hotel does. There is a whole debate about offering an upscale VIP transportation service, too, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
The point is, there are solutions. The property is big enough to have one of the largest spas and heated pool areas to rival The Little Nell. It can become Aspen's new hit."
"The investment required is astronomical compared to a city hotel," I argued.
We walked at an energetic pace through the streets of Aspen.
The property wasn't exactly within walking distance, but we still had time, and I wanted to feel the pulse of the area.
Even though I told him this was not the weekend to get an objective view, the truth was, I saw enough families with kids around to know it wasn't crowded just because couples decided to ski on Valentine's weekend.
"Do you want to take side streets or go down the main street?" Drake asked.
"Let's go down the main street."
I’d been to Aspen often for skiing, and I was familiar with the dynamics here.
It seemed to be more congested than it would be during actual skiing hours.
According to my research and experience, the town peaked in the afternoon when people went for lazy strolls to shop or find a restaurant, but right now it was brimming with people.
I glanced in the windows of the shops. "Thank God we have an appointment. My shopaholic gene is working overtime," I said. "I can't believe they have Hermès scarves here. I'll come back for one tomorrow."
"How did you even notice that?"
It was a valid question. There were a lot of people looking in the windows, and it caught my eye between the shoulders of two people when they shifted their positions.
"My eye is trained to spot exorbitantly priced items that are rarely in stock. This could even be a shopping destination for some tourists." I tapped my finger against my skin. "Hmm, I'm getting ideas."
"I can see that. I've got to say that would have never occurred to me. That's why we're such a good pair."
I swallowed hard, looking at him out of the corner of my eye. Had he meant that as a double entendre? Probably not. It was hard to say where we stood these days.
I sighed. "Damn it, I'm going to need a real shopping session tomorrow."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I've just seen presents for Reese, Paisley, and I think even for Lexi.
It's harder to shop for my cousins' wives and fiancées because I haven't known them for too long.
Well, technically, I did, but I was gone for most of that time, so I don't know what makes them tick.
But we all love jewelry. We've got that in common. "
He looked at me like I was speaking in pig Latin. I offered him a smile. "How about you? Want to buy something for your sister?"
He frowned. "I could, but I’ll need your help. I'm clueless."
"Don't say anything more. Shopping is one of my passions. I'd love to be a personal shopper pro bono."
"I could also try finding something for my nephew, although he's only a couple of months old," Drake said.
I stopped in my tracks, looking up at him. "Wait, you've got a baby nephew?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"You never said anything until now."
"It's personal information, Kimberly. Not too long ago, we agreed not to share any."
"Yes, but then you kissed me like it was your job in that staircase, so I think it's safe to say we've crossed some lines."
He smirked. "We have, haven't we?"
"So, tell me more. Wait, you said your sister is the reason you came back. Was it because she had your nephew?"
"Yes. Her husband left her."
I gasped. "Oh my God."
"She went into premature labor, and my nephew spent the first two months of his life in the NICU.”
I put a hand on my chest. "Drake, I'm so sorry. Is she all right?"
"She and the baby are healthy, yes. But my sister is having a really hard time."
"Oh my God. I bet." I gasped. "You know what we'll do? I'll interview you about your sister. And then I’ll find a present to lift her mood. What do you think about that?"
Drake
I looked her straight in the eyes. She was serious. I couldn't believe this woman. "I think I've never met anyone like you."
She bit her lower lip. "Okay, I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not."
"It's a compliment," I clarified.
We resumed walking at a slower pace. I hadn't intended to tell her anything about Michael, but it just slipped out.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked, noticing her lips inch up in one corner.
"I was thinking I might have been wrong about you. That's not something I admit often. I thought you were a grumpy bastard."
"I am. Make no mistake."
"Yeah, but I also thought you might have a stone or a hedgehog in place of a heart."
"A hedgehog?" I swear to God, sometimes it was hard to follow her.
"But I think you have a regular heart. It's in there somewhere, under a pile of stones and rubble."
"I'd have to contradict you on that."
"Oh, you’d like that, wouldn't you? For me to keep believing that you're some heartless monster," she said.
I frowned. "You thought I was a monster?"
"No, that's too strong a word." She waved her hand before pulling her beanie lower on her head. “Should have brought my scarf with me. My hair will look like shit. Tell me more about your nephew," she said as we turned to the left off Main Street. We were approaching the property now.
"He doesn't sleep. But other than that, he's not fussy. My sister has her hands full with him, and I have no idea what to do to make life easier for her."
This was the first time I'd admitted this to another soul. What was it about Kimberly that made it so easy to share my thoughts and fears and frustrations? I'd never been able to do that with a woman. I'd never wanted to either.
“Do your parents live nearby?”
“No, they’re in Oregon, where Suze and I grew up. We’re not terribly close. They have very fixed views about how things are supposed to work. They keep telling Suze she should get back with her husband. So I’m the only support she has.”